| The Swiss Army Knife is a hand tool with a multitude | | | | approximately 3.5in long and .75in wide; smaller models |
| of functions. This knife sports an array of various | | | | are typically about 2.25in long and .5in wide. Thickness |
| tools as well as a blade. They are known for having | | | | varies depending on the number of tools included. A |
| screwdrivers, can openers, scissors and more each | | | | flat version with somewhat fewer tools (but still |
| stored away inside their own compartment within the | | | | retaining a knife) the size and shape of a credit card |
| handle of the knife. They are exposed through a | | | | known as a Swiss Card, can be stored in a typical |
| pivot point action. The handle is usually red in color | | | | wallet. Although red SAKs are most common, black, |
| with a white cross (the emblem of Switzerland). The | | | | blue, white, phosphorescent yellow, camouflage |
| model used by the actual Swiss Army has an | | | | patterns, and other colors are available. The plastic |
| aluminum-plated handle.This knife is synonymous with | | | | cladding is usually opaque but may be transparent; |
| the pocketknife. It is often descriptive with a sort of | | | | metal- and wood-clad models are available.Founded in |
| tool, such as a software tool, that is a family of | | | | 1884, since 1891 the company has delivered knives |
| special-purpose tools.There are various types and | | | | to the Swiss Army. The famous emblem, a cross in a |
| styles of Swiss Army knives each with its own tool | | | | shield, has been used by Victorinox since 1909. That |
| combination for a specific tasks. The Swiss Army's | | | | year, the mother of founder Karl Elsener died the |
| knife has a corrugated metal surface with a red | | | | name of the company changed to "Victoria" in her |
| emblem and adorns a blade, a reamer, a | | | | honor. In 1921, with the introduction of "inox" (the |
| bottle-opener/screwdriver/wire stripper, and a | | | | French term for Stainless Steel) into their products, |
| can-opener/screwdriver.The simplest model sold | | | | the brand and name of the company became the |
| includes a single blade. The most popular models | | | | present Victorinox.In 2005 Victorinox acquired |
| typically include a combination of the tools included in | | | | Wenger, the other official supplier of the Swiss Army |
| the official army model, a second blade, tweezers, | | | | knife. Victorinox intends to keep both brands intact. |
| toothpick, corkscrew, Phillips screwdriver, nail file and | | | | Swiss Army knives are widely used outside the |
| scissors. Others include a saw, hook, magnifying glass, | | | | army. They are useful multifunctional instruments for |
| and ballpoint pen, fish scaler that doubles as a ruler, | | | | everyday life and are available in a wide variety of |
| pliers/wire cutters and a key chain. The more recent | | | | sizes and functional combinations. Even NASA |
| features include USB flash storage, digital clock, digital | | | | Astronauts have a Victorinox knife as standard |
| altimeter, LED light, laser pointer and MP3 player. | | | | equipment. Victorinox knives have also been taken to |
| Whew!A brass spacer on the official Army model | | | | Mt. Everest and the Arctic. The flagship model of |
| allows the knife with the screwdriver and the reamer | | | | Victorinox, the Swiss Champ, is in the New York |
| to be extended at the same time, to be used to | | | | Museum of Modern Art's Permanent Design |
| assemble the Swiss Army assault rifles (the SIG 550 | | | | Collection.Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre |
| and the SIG 510).A standard full-size SAK is | | | | Florida. |